State Senator Adriano Espaillat's congressional campaign has stressed the barrier-breaking nature of his congressional candidacy. (If elected, he would be the first Dominican-American elected to Congress).

The man he is looking to unseat, Rep. Charlie Rangel, said he didn't begrudge anyone using an overt ethnic appeal in campaigning against him. Rangel, a founding member of the Black Congressional Caucus, said on NY1 last night, "Hey, we said it's our chance for president. I think it's our chance for the second term of our presidency. I think these things are what America is all about. But you just don't say 'I'm next on the list,' especially when you're the only guy with the list."

Earlier in the interview, NY1 host Errol Louis noted the congressman missed more than 100 votes since February due to back problems, noting also that when Rangel first ran for the congressional seat in the early 1970s, he made an issue of Rep. Adam Clayton's prolonged absence from Washington.